Dropper closure for containers



April 17, 1956 J. A. ELDER, JR

DROPPER CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 11, 1952 INVENTOR JOHN A. ELDER JR. MM...

MGM?

ATTORNEYS 2,742,195.: DROPlER CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS John A. Elder, Jr., ,Plainfield," Na -J.,. assignor to Merck &-Co.,. Inc., Railway, Ns, Jr, a corporation, of New Jersey, g a

Application February 11,'19s2,-'senn No.1 271,031

6 Claims. cmzza zosy This invention relates itocontainers'utilized in. the sale of fluids adapted to be dispensed 'fromthe container by :th'e useof a dropper, asfor example, containers forltherapeutic fluids, and ffluids of the type requiring sterile packaging In particular, the inventiondeals'with' a device of this type and kind wherein'a dropper unit constitutes the stopper or closure for the. container, the latter having means for tensionally engaging the bottle in retaining the dropper unit thereon and eifecting a seal between the stopper and container, and wherein rupturable means may a be provided to secure the container and stopper together in providing a tamper-proof package thereof.

Moreparticularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described wherein the stoppertophas means on the undersurface thereof'engaging the upper end of the container to establish pressure engagement therewith and effect a, seal 'in normal uses ofthe device from time to time; and still more particularly, the invention deals with-a device of the character defined wherein the stopper is capable of movement into angular position with respect to the container so as to position the end of the dropper tube in a lower corner of the container, facilitating dispensing; of substantially all of the container contents.

Thenovel features of the inventionwill behest understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and-in which: v I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view through a device made according to my invention illustrating the same in'the sealed position. a

Fig; 2 is a view similar to-Fig, l showing only part of .theconstructionwith the seal bandremoved'and showing a'modification; V

Fig. 3 is "a detailedview of the dropper stopper of Fig. 2 removed and omitting part of, the construction,

and v Fig; 4 is a diagrammatic'view ofthe device shown in Fig. 1 illustrating a use thereof with part of the construction broken away and in section.

In Figs; liand. 4 0i the drawings; I have shown at 105 a container orbottle, preferably ,0]? transparent'or translucent material, the bottom of the container. having a raised wallll; sidewalls-ofthe'container adjacent the upper endhaving a contracted neck'12 outwardly of whichis an annular collar or head 13. The neck andbead constitutes whatmay be termed an upper, open end portion 14-"of the container; and the bore of thisendportion has substantiallycentrally thereof an outwardly extending annular-recess 15: At'16 is shown the outer surface of the portionwll, whichtsurtace may be termed the top of the container or bottle. At 17, I have shown the combineddropper-stopper unitof'the device. This uni-tincludesa stopper: bodyglsh'aving anenlarged, annularband'or'collar portion19 and a substantially conical plug or stopper 20. The plug or stopper has ata a r 2,742,195 Patented Apr. 17, 19 5s its widest diameter portionan annularbead 21,, which. is

spaced fromfthe band or collar, 19 by a short cylindrical portion, and which is adapted to snap into. the recess 15in retaining-the unit 17 on the container with the lower surface-of the collar portion 19 in pressure engagement with thejsurface 16. Thisengagementis facilitated an annular groove or-recess 22 formed in the lower surface of the band 19 at the upper, end ofthe plugtor stopper 20.". The unitl? has a. bore ,23 disposed primarilywithinthe band 19"and'plug 20, this borebeing enlarged at 7 its .lower end as.seen'at,24, andhavingan annular recess 25'where the plug 20 joins the band 19. The recess .25 is adapted to receive an,outwardly extending bead or flange 26 on a dropper tube 27, this tube projecting below the plugs-2,0 into the container 10 to; a point adjacent dome bottom 11 asseen in Fig. 1. The lower end of the tube 27 hasa contracteddischarge as at 28.-

EXtendingupwardly from the central portionofthe band'19, the unit 17'has an elongated bulb 29, bore 30' of which is slightly greater diameter than the bore 23 and joins the bore 23 in a bevelled wall portion-31at the upper end of the band 19.- The entire unit 17 iscomposed of'flexible rubber havingsufiicient resiliency to provide the sealing and closing. efiects which are desired,

particularly, in holding the lower surface of theband 1 9 'firinlyupon the surfacelfi, even after the tear-off ring or until. the purchaser has removed the same in using the dropper for administering the required amount of drops of the fluidscontents of thecontainerlll.

It will be understood that by providing the. enlarged diameter24 of the, bore 23, initialattachment of the dropper tube 27 'withth'e stopper is facilitated, andwhen mounted, it willf'appear, that the tube27 has a smaller, outside 'diarneterthan the diameter of the bore. 23 which provides a slight freedom of swinging movement ofthe tube 27in the stopper, and thisfreedomof movemenhin additionto the ability to flex the stopper in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in, Fig, 4.of the. drawings, facilitates positioning the lower end .of the, tube .271 at} jacenta corner 33 of the container 10 when in tilted position, as shown, to facilitate dispensing subst antially-. all of thetcontents of the bottle orcontainer.

In Figs. ,2 and S'of, the/draw ng, Ihave shown aslight modification of'the construction shown, in Figs land 4 in which lllc'represents a container,ortbottlet-similarto th'ercontainer orbottlellhand 717' represents a dropper stopper unit similar to the unit 17. In thesefigllros, 18 'representsa stopper'bflody having a band 19? anda plug orstopper 20', the annular bead of which-his: indicated at 21", this bead fitting within the recess 157 ofithe. container. At 27 is showntthedroppertube. similar to the tube. 27,;and 29 shows a bulb sitnjlartq th b lb 29'. The primary di'fierence betweenfthe. structure shown in Figs. Z and 3 from that shown in Fig.1 residesjn the provision of a downwardly'projecting annular sealingn-ing I 34. on-the lower surface oftherband19outwardly; ofthe recess 22 which is similantothc recess 22,, The, band 19 alsov has another. recess 35 disposed outw rdly; of the ring 34, which recessin combinationswiththe recess 22, facilitates flexure ofthe sealing ringsiht tmetfect a more p sitive seal of theunit 17 upon the pps surfac 16'*of the container innoliflialusesiofthe device. .In other words, by providing the downwardly extending sealing ring 34 of resilient material it will be apparent that when the bead 21' snaps into the recess 15', the ring 34 will be flattened out or flexed to common alignment with the lower surface 36 of the outer peripheral portion'of the band 19' and will be maintained in this flattened pressure engagement with the surface 16 to effect a positive seal.

This latter feature is advantageous when the device is used with certain types and kinds of fluids or medicinal preparations, and the purpose is to minimize displacement or" the fluid, particularly when the container is carried about in other than perpendicular positions. This seal isfurther advantageous from a standpoint of rendering the container airtight to prevent undue evaporation and to prevent contamination of the container contents which migh take place with certain types and kinds of fluids or preparations. it will be understood that an conically tapered shank portion the lower surface of said effective seal is also established with the structure shown and which has the further advantage of facilitating sterile packaging of liquids when this is desired. After removal of the rupturable ring or strap, the maintenance of a sterile condition in the residual fluid in the container between intermittent uses thereof is facilitated by the snap engagement between the stopper and container and by the eifective seal thereby provided between the container top and band or flange portion of the stopper.

it-shonld also be noted in this connection that the annular groove 22 or 22' permits slight vertical flexure of the entire flange, or band 19, 19 as the stopper is drawn downwardly by engagement of the beaded portion thereof with the annular recess 15, 15 in the container neck. Thus the stopper can adapt itself to slight variations in positioning of the annular recess 15, 15' in the container.

Havingfully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a container having an open end with a contracted neck portion; the contracted neck having an annular groove on the inner surface thereof, a dropper stopper unit mounted on the open end of the container, said unit comprising a stopper part, an outwardly projecting band part and a bulb part, the stopper and band having a bore in alignment with end opening into the bulb part, a

dropper tube mounted in said bore and projecting'from the unit into the container, the free end of said tube having a contracted discharge, and said stopper part having a projecting bead portion engaging the groove of said neck, a short cylindrical portion above said bead portion, and a conically tapered shank depending from saidbead portion, and the lower surface of said band including annular deformable means facilitating vertical displacement thereof in engaging said open end of the container.

2. A stopper unit for containers having an' annular groove in the bore of the open end portion of the container,'said stopper comprising a stopper part and an integral outwardly projecting band part composed of readily flexible material, said band part being adapted to engage the upper surface-of the open end of the container in connection with which the stopper is mounted, the

,stopper part including an outwardly projecting annular thereon, said stopper part including below said bead a hand having deformable means providing vertical displacement of said band for effecting a circumferential seal on the surface of the container outwardly and in spaced relation from the stopper part, and said last named means comprising an annular groove in the lower surface of said band adjacent said stopper part.

3. A dropper stopper unit for containers having an annular groove in the bore of the open end portion of the container, said unit comprising a stopper part, an integral outwardly projecting band part composed of readily flexible material, and a flexible bulb part, the stopper part and band having'a bore in alinement with and opening into the bulb part, a dropper tube mounted in said bore and projecting from said unit, said band part being adapted to engage the upper surface of the open end of the container in connection with which the stopper is mounted, the stopper part including an outwardly projecting bead adapted to enter the groove in the bore of the container in tensionally supporting said band upon said surface of the container in effecting a seal of the stopper thereon, and the portion of the stopper part below said bead having an essentially conical downwardly tapered contour, and means providing limited swinging movement of the dropper tube with respect to said bore.

4. A dropper stopper unit for containers having an annular groove in the bore of the open end portion of the container, said unit comprising a stopper part, an integral outwardly projecting band part composed of readily flexible material, and a flexible bulb part, the stopper part and band having a bore in alinement with and opening into the bulb part, a dropper tube mounted in said bore and projecting from said unit, said band part being adapted to engage the upper surface of the open end of the container'in connection with which the stopper is mounted, the stopper part including an outwardly projecting bead'adapted to enter the groove in the bore of the container in tensionally supporting said band upon said surface of the container in effecting a seal of the stopper thereon, and the lower container engaging surface of said band having an upwardly extended annular groove adjacent the stopper part facilitating substantial vertical and angular displacement ofsaid band.

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said deformable means comprises an annular groove in the lower surface of said band adjacent said stopper part providing a weakened portion facilitating vertical displacement of the remainder of said band. i 6. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the outside 'tainer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,116 Perry Mar. 21, 1905 1,754,776 Stanley Apr. 15, 1930 1,822,296 Keilly Sept. 8, 1931 1,968,316 Schmitt July 31, 1934 1,982,917 Lothrop Dec. 4, 1934 1,988,661 Miller Jan. 22, 1935 2,526,225 Gronemeyer Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,904 Germany Aug. 24, 1925 519,553 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1940 527,109 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1940 568,892 Great Britain Apr. 25, 1945 

